Fire extinguishing sprinkler system



Dec. 19, 1933. H. CHANDLER FIRE EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l may,

" IIIIIIIIIIIIA'III INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY):

Dec. 19, 1933. H, CHANDLER 1,939,764

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENE INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES FIRE EXTINGUISBING SPRINKLER srs'rEM Hatchett Chandler, Dallas, Ten, assignorof onehalf to George M. Easlcy, Dallas, Tex.

Application; December 30, 1927 Serial No. 243,514

9 Claims; (or. s

This invention relates to fire extinguishing sprinkler systems in which sprmkler heads or nozzles supplied; with water under pressure areopened automatically by the heat of the fire, and

i the water showered thereon and is of the same general: type asthat disclosed in my pending application, Serial. No. 166,319, filed February 7th, 1927, of which the instant application is a continuation in part; In certain types of. such systems, a booster pump driven by an. electric motor is employed, either to furnish the necessary to the water where it is taken from a pond or reservoir or like location. where in pressure exists, or to augment the pressure in cases where the water is taken from the mains of cities or towns which may not lurnish suflicient pressure ior'the system and; it is the practice to start the pump automatically by the opening of the sprinkler heads; which action is effected through. the medium of an; electric switch in circuit with the motor and operated automatically to close the circuit when the pressure in the system decreases when one or more of the" sprinkler heads opened; The present invention is concerned in a system of. this type, with the for starting the operation of the booster pump, and the invention consists ofa valve mechanism of improved form and construction controlled by the pressure of' the water in the system and controlling in turn the booster pumm-and in the specification to lol'low the invention will be described in: detail and thenovel ieatures thereoi will be pointed out in the appended. claims.

In the accompanying. drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of: a sprinkler system having my invention embodied therein in one form for use where the water to supply the system is taken from a city main.

Plg.- 2 is an elevation of a latch device for holding the valve open and the switch closed under certain conditions of operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention for use in localitics where the water is taken from a pond, reservoir or like source where no pressure exists.

Referring to the drawings Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the piping of the system comprises a water supply pipe 1 leadacity supply system, and apipe 4 communicat ing with pipe 1 and. having branch pipes 5 come nected with it to which:v sprinklerheads 6 are applied.

The booster pump is driven by an electric motor 7, supplied. with. current from: a. power line 8', and controlled. by an electric switch 9, comprising in the presenti instancc a movable switch head 10. carrying switch. plugs 11 connected respectively with the incoming conductors of the power line, and pairs of. fingers 12-. adapted to receive the plugs, and. adapted to make electric contact therewith, which fingers are connected respectively with the conductors of the pump circuit.

My improved valve mechanism, designated. by the reference numeral 13, is applied at the point 01. communication of: the pipe 1 with the pipe 4, and consists of a valve cylinder 14 communicating at its lower end by an inlet port therein with the pipe 1 and. provided in its side with. an

outlet port 15 communicating. with the pipe 4,. 2

a restricted opening. 18 eirtendinsg through it from side to side and establishing communication. between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides of. the piston, the purpose of which communication: will presently appear. Connected with the piston, is a: piston rod 19 which extends upwardly through a stufiing box 20 in the cylinder' head, and through a guiding cap 21 on the upper end of anextension 22v of the cyl inder, the upper end. of said piston rod being connected with the switch head 10 for moving. it in closing. and opening the switch. The piston rodi's encircled by a spiral spring 23 bearing at its upper end against. the cap 21 and at its lower end against an adjusting nut 24 on the piston. rod, the tendency of the spring being to urge the piston downwardly.

The piston valve as will be seen divides the cylinder into upper and lower chambers or spaces 25 and'2B, between which communication is: established as before stated by the restricted opening 18 in the piston, and. a pipe 27 with a restricted bore extends from the upper cylinder space 25 at a point just beneath the cylinder head, and enters the pipe Qthe terminal' portion 28 of the pipe 27 within the pipe 4 extending in the direction of the flow of the water to the sprinkler heads andbeing 'open' at its end.

In the operation of! the mechanism so far de scribed, the pressure of water acting on the sprinkler heads is set, either by the pump or by the pressure existing in the supply main, and the valve piston is balanced by the water on both sides of the piston communicating through the restricted opening 18 therein. The piston under these conditions operates on the principle of differential pressure as between the two sides of the piston, and as there is some constant pressure at all times from the city main, the piston stands ready at all times to close the switch and start the pump whenever one or more of the sprinkler heads is opened, it being understood that normally and with the sprinkler heads closed, thepiston will be held in its lower position by the spring 23, the tension of which is adjusted so as to slightly overcome the balance of the piston as controlled by the water pressure. In this position of the piston the pipe 4 will be in communication with the space in the cylinder on the upper side of the piston through the cylinder port 15, and the switch head will be held with the switch plugs separated from the switch fingers, the motor circuit will be opened and the pump out of action. When now one or, more of the sprinkler heads is opened, a reduction of pressure in the pipe 4 and in the cylinder on the upper side of the piston will immediately result, and the greater pressure on the lower side of the piston will overcome the force or the spring and will move the piston quickly upwardly and close the switch, thereby starting the motor and pump, the piston in such upward movement passing across and above the cylinder port 15 and establishing direct communication between the pipe 1 and the pipe 4, so that the water will flow into pipe 4 and thence to the sprinkler heads.

After passing and uncovering port 15, the piston will be held in this position by the rush of the water against its underside, and also by the vaouumcreated in the cylinder space 'on the upper side of the piston by the suction of the waterv in the pipe 27 which aids in the upward movement of the piston, and this condition will continue until the flow of the water to the sprinkler heads is cut ofi when newsprinkler heads are to be applied, which cut oftmay be affected by the cut oif valve 29 applied in the pipe 4 just beyond the pipe 27. i

In order that the piston may be heldwith the port 15 partially open. un er conditions where the flow of the water to the sprinkler heads may not be in suflicient volume to itself hold the piston steadily up, such for instance, as when only one sprinkler head is opened, I provide a latch device 30 so located and formed that it will be engaged by theswitch head on the upward .movement of the same and willhold the head up. As shown best in Fig. 2 this,

latch device comprises a spring actuated latch finger 31 pivoted on an arm 32 extending upwardly from the extension 22 ofthe cylinder, which finger is held yieldingly by the spring in the path of the switch head so that when the latter moves upwardly it will force the latch back until the lower side of the switch head passes by the latch, whereupon the latter will snap beneath the head and will hold the same as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The relative form and arrangement of these parts are such that the latch will hold the piston with its lower side a short distance above the bottom of theport 15 thereby partially openingthe port, in which position the switch andconsequently the motor circuit will be closed. When under such conditions additional sprinkler heads are opened and there is a demand for a greater volume of water, the piston will be moved further upwardly and the port will be fully uncovered, and the piston will be held in this position by the rush of the water against the under side of the same as hereinbefore described.

An alarm device, in the present instance in the form of an electrically operated siren, is connected in the motor circuit as shown in Fig. 1 to give audible notice of the opening of the sprinkler heads; and a check valve 33 is placed in the supply main as shown to maintain the pressure in the system.

In Fig. 3 the valve mechanism 13 is shown in modified form to adapt the same for use in localities where there is no pressure existing in addition to that generated by the booster pump 2*. In this case, as in Fig. 1, the valve piston 17% isbalanced in its cylinder 14* and is 'connected with a switch head 10 cooperating with switch fingers 12 to control the motor circuit, and it is held as before in position to partially open the port 15 by a latch device 30 The piston in this form of the valve mechanism is .overbalanced by the pressure in the system so as to hold the piston normally in its lower position as shown, and spring 23 is arranged to movethe piston upwardly when the pressure is reduced on the opening of the sprinkler heads, the said spring in this case having its upper end bearing against an adjustable nut 34 on the piston rod 19 and its lower end against the cyl-' inder head 16*.

To enable the pressure in the system to thus hold the piston in its lower position against the counter force of the spring, a pressure chamber 35 is provided which is closed by a movable diaphragm 36, which pressure chamber communicates by a pipe 3'7 with the pipe 4 at a point between the cylinder port 15 and the cut off valve 29. A rod 38 is connected at its lower end to the diaphragm so as tobe moved thereby, and at its upper end it is jointed to the outer-end of a lever 39 pivoted between its ends to an arm 40 on the cylinder extension 22, the opposite end of the lever being. pivotally connected with the upper end of the piston rod.

The form and relation of these parts are such that under normal conditions of operation, with the sprinkler heads closed and the pressure of water in the system set by the booster pump, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber acting on the diaphragm and the parts connecting the same with the piston rod, will overcome the force of the spring 23 and the piston will be held in its lower position as shown. When now one or more of the sprinkler heads is opened, the pressure on the upper side of the piston and that in the diaphragm chamber being reduced, and the pressure in the diaphragm chamber no longer dominating the force of the spring, the latter, and the pressure on the lower side of the piston, will move the latter upwardly, which action, as in the first form of the invention described, will close the motor switch and throw the pump into action, and will open the cylinder port and permit the water to flow through the pipe 4 to the sprinkler heads.

The provision of the pressurediaphragm insures that the pump will be thrown into action in the event of leakage in the system such as would reduce the pressure beyond the predetermined point for which the apparatus is set,

" the diaphragm for in such cue the reduction of pressure due to such leak will the spring to move the Futon upwardly and closenthe switch, it

being understood that the diaphragm chamber and; d are of such area in relation m the tome at the spring, that the pressure normany existing inv the; diaphragm chamber will overbalame the spring as before mentioned. In the event or there being a slow leak such that thepressure in the system as originally established by the action of the pump should become. reduced to the: extent'mentioned', the tension. oiv the spring pushing: upwardly on the piston will become relatively greater than the pressure. in the diaphragm pushing downwardly on the with the result that the. switch will be: closed, the motor and pump'started and the. siren sounded, which condition will continue for a In seconds and until the pump in its operation has restored. the normal. pressure 'in the system, These: actions will take place without the opening of the sprinkler heads; and assoon as the normal. pressure isv restored, the piston will on the manual. release of the latch again take its former lower position as shown in the drawings, since the restricted opening through the piston will allow a slow equilibrium of pressure to take place on opposite sides, thereby rcestablishing the former greater force'ot acting to force the piston downwardly.

In installations of this type where the water istaken from a pond orreservoir where no pressure exists, anair trap 41 will be applied to the pipe leading from the booster'pump, which air trap is in. the form of a water tank connected with the pipe 1*.by branch pipe 42. This air trap will act by reason of the pressure of air stored therein to maintain the working pressure in the system so as to hold the switch open, in the event that such pressure might under abnormal conditions. be slightly relieved, as might occur by a slow leak in the system within the.

predetermined pressure tolerance above referred to. The effect of the pressure tank will there! fore be to prevent the booster pump from being thrown, into: action under these conditions, which would happen in the absence of. the provision ofv such a tank.. V

It will be noted from the foregoing description of the two forms of pressure controlled valves, that, due to the balancing of the valve piston in its cylinder by reason of the communication: between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides 0d the piston, with the latter held in its lower position by the overbalancing force, in'the one case by the force of the spring, and in the other case by the pressure existing in the system, the piston stands ready at all. times and without regard to the general pressure existing inthe system, to be moved upwardly just as soon as the over-balancing condition is disturbed, and thus close the motor circuit and start the booster pump. Such upward movement of the piston is rendered certain and reliable by the forces acting thereon when the pressure on the upper side of the piston is reduced, such as the rush of the water against the under side of the piston, and the creation of the vacuum on its upper side through the vacuum pipe 27; and these forces will act to hold the piston steadily in its upper position and without danger of vibration; so that the switch will be maintained in closed position and the cylinder port held open to the free now or the water to the sprinkler heads as long as: the demand for such flow exists; The apparatus is therefore sensitive to any reducticn in the pressure due to the opening of one; or more of the sprinkler heads, and will operate in amefl'cctive and reliable manner to initiate the action of the pump on the opening of thesprinkler heads; and. will act also to maintain the pressure in. the system in the event of any leakage therein, so that under all conditions and. at all times the apparatus is. ready to respond tothe' demands upon it in the event of fire In foregoing. description and accompany: ing drawings'l have setforth my invention. in the particular details and arrangement of parts which I prefer in practice to adopt, and it will be'understood that these details may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention; and further it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I..

claim is:

1..In a. sprinkler system, the combination of a plurality of sprinkler heads, a pipe connection between said heads and a sourceof water supply, a valve cylinder. in. said pipe connection pro vided with a port for the flow of the waterto the sprinkler heads, a valve piston movable in the cylinder to open said port, means for establish-- ing communication between the cylinder. spaces on opposite sides of the valve piston, means con-, trolled by the flow of the water to the sprinkler: heads for creating suction in the cylinder on one side of the piston to hold the same with the port open, a pump in the pipe connection between the cylinder on the opposite side of the. piston and the source of water supply,. an electric motor for driving the pump, a power circuit including said motor, and a switch in said circuit operated, by the valve piston.

2., Ina sprinkler system, the combination of a plurality of sprinkler heads, a. valve cylinder.- provided with a. discharge port, a: pipe connecting said discharge port with thesprinkler heads, a; valve pistonmovable upwardly in said cylinder toppen the port,, means establishing communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides of the valve piston, a suction pipe communicating respectively with the cylinder on the upper side of the valve piston and with thepipe connected to the sprinkler heads, a booster pump connected with a sourceof water supply andwith the cylinder at the lower side of the valve piston, an electric motor for operating the pump, a power circuit for said motor, and a switch in said circuit operatively connected with the valve piston to be controlled "thereby.

3. In a-sprinkler'systcm, the combination of a plurality of sprinkler heads, a pipe connection between said heads and a source of water supply, a valve cylinder in said connection, a valve piston in said cylinder movable to permit flow of thewater. to the. sprinkler heads, means establishing communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides of the piston, a. booster pump in said pipe connection, between the cylinder and source of water supply, an electric motor for driving the pump, a power circuit for said motor, a switch in said circuit operatively connected with the valve piston, a. spring actingv to move the piston in a, direction to permit the flow of the water to the sprinkler heads and close the switch, and means controlled by the pressure in the pipe connection between the cylinder and sprinkler heads and operatively connected with the valve fiow of water to the sprinkler heads, means establishing communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides of the valve piston, a booster pump in the pipe connection between the cylinder and source of water supply, an electric motor for driving the pump, a power circuit for the motor, a switch in said circuit 0peratively connected'with the valve piston to be closed WhenIthe valve piston is moved to admit water to the sprinkler heads, a spring acting to so move the valve piston, a pressure chamber supplied with water from the pipe connection between the cylinder and sprinkler heads, and a movable diaphragm for said chamber operatively connected with the valve piston and operating to move the valve piston in opposition to the force of the spring.

5. In a sprinkler system, the combination of a plurality of sprinkler heads, a source of water supply, a valve cylinder having an inlet port connected with the source of water supply and having an outlet port communicating with the sprinkler heads, a'booster pump in the connecsaid pressure is disturbed, to a position to establish direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports to permit free flow of the water to the sprinkler heads, and means whereby the booster pump is controlled in its operation by the movement of the piston valve.

"having an outlet port communicating with the sprinkler heads, a booster pump in the connection between the valve cylinder and source of water supply, an electric motor for operating the pump, a power circuit including said motor,

a switch in said circuit, a piston valve connected operatively with said switch and fitted and movable in said cylinder, and formed with a restricted passage through it to establish communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite sidesrof the valve, said valve being normally in a position between said ports to shut off communication between them, except through said restricted communicating passage, whereby the sprinkler head piping will be filled with water under a pressure balanced on opposite sides of the valve, and said valve being movable when said pressure is disturbed, toa position to establish direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports to permit free fiow of the water to the sprinklerheads.

7. In a sprinkler system, the combination of a plurality of sprinkler heads, a pipe connection between said heads and a source of water supply, a booster pump in said pipe connection, an electric motor for driving the same, a power circuit including said motor, a switch in said circuit, and mechanism including a device maintained in inoperative condition by the normal water pressure in the system and operable only on a reduction of said pressure on the opening of thesprinkler heads, to close the switch and start the pump,.said mechanism including also a second device responsive to the pressure in the system and operable on a reduction of said pressure, due to the accidental occurrence of a leak while the sprinkler heads remain closed, to close said switch and thereby start the operation of the pump.

8. In a sprinkler system, the combination of sprinkler head piping adapted to be filled with water under pressure, a plurality of normallyclosed sprinkler heads connected to said piping and adapted to be opened on a predetermined increase of temperature under fire conditions, a source of water supply, a cylinder having an inlet port connected with the source of water supply and having an outlet port communicating with the sprinkler heads, a booster pump in the connection between the cylinder and source of water supply, a piston. fitted and movable in said cylinder and formed with a restricted passage through it to establish communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite sides of the piston, said piston being movable to a position between said ports to shut off communica-v tion between them, except through said restricted communicating passage, means for normally yieldingly holding. the piston .in such position, and said piston and cylinder being constructed and arranged so that the piston is movable by the fiow of water toward the sprinkler heads to a position to establish direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports to permit free fiow of the water to the sprinkler heads, means in said source of waterhsupply to prevent back flow of the water, and means whereby the booster pump is controlledin its operation by the movement. of the piston in a direction caused by the flow of water to the sprinkler heads.

9. In a sprinkler system, the combination of sprinkler head piping adapted to be filled with water under pressure, a plurality of normally closed sprinkler heads connected to said piping and adaptedto be opened on a predetermined of water supply, an electric motor for operating the pump, a power circuit including said motor,

a switch in said circuit, a piston connected operative'ly with said switch and fitted and movable in said cylinder, and formed with a restricted passage through it to establish communication between the cylinder spaces on opposite'sides of the piston, said piston and cylin der being constructed and arranged so that the piston is movable to a position between said ports to shutoff communication between them,

except through said restricted communicating passage, means for normally yieldingly holding the piston in such position, and said piston being movable by the flow of water toward the sprinkler heads to a position to establish direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports to permit free flow of the water to the 

